title: Evidence for altered cell-mediated immunity in postmastectomy lymphoedema.
abstract: Patients with chronic lymphoedema are prone to develop chronic infections and various tumours in the lymphoedematous limb, suggesting that regional immune surveillance is impaired. To test the hypothesis that cutaneous cell-mediated immunity is impaired, 35 women with postmastectomy lymphoedema were investigated using dinitrochlorobenzene to test the afferent and efferent loops of the allergic contact immune response. The results support the role of lymphatics as an important component of the immune response to allergens by the demonstration of impairment of both the afferent and efferent loops of the allergic contact dermatitis reaction, and confirm that there is suppression of immune competence in a lymphoedematous limb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mallon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000276:immunology; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene / Q000276:immunology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests
chemical_list: D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene